It was the gossip lot made up of four young ladies, my age, led by the queen bee Cecile McGee. They swarmed around me like bees to honey. I turned to see Steven and Judith had walked some distance away and were busy socializing with others. I knew all the girls from school. They were always on the lookout for their next morsel of information whether it was real or not.
“It has been a long time Francesca. How are you this lovely evening?” Cecile was the spokesperson for the whole pack, the others rarely talked. They all stood behind her with knowing smirks. I was curious as to what I had done to bring on their unwanted attention.
“I am well Cecile.” I was not going to bait her with questions, even if it meant not being polite. I figured if I let her take the lead, she would tell me what she wanted and the conversation would be over much faster.
“We saw an unfamiliar face this evening and we just had to know, who is your handsome escort?” She asked like it was a truly an insignificant detail but I knew she was thirsting for the bit of information. I should have known it had something to do with Conner. He was gorgeous and as she pointed out, new and unexplored.
I turned looking in his direction. He held two glasses in his hands and was filling the first one up with punch. “That is my stepbrother's best friend. Mr. Edwards.”
“Mother says he is staying in your home.” The girl to Cecile's right spoke and I believed her name was Jennifer. Her voice was small a squeaky like that of a small child's. I knew no matter which way I phrased my answer, they would turn it around to fit their gossip rants. So I said nothing. When it became clear I was not going to feed them any information, the girl spoke again.
“Mother also says that Mr. Henry has been seen in town on several occasions, alone .” The last word came out in a hushed tone, like it was dangerous.
“If Mr. Edwards is not accompanying him, what must he be doing with all his time?” Cecile asked with snotty curiosity.
“He has been attending business in town,” I said trying to hush them up.
“I was not talking about Mr. Henry,” Cecile said snidely before an evil smirk spread across her face. She looked over my shoulder, then quickly back at me. “Have a good evening Francesca.” She spun around taking off in the same direction from which she had come and the rest of the hive followed. Conner appeared beside me seconds later, handing me a glass. Our finger touched briefly, his eyes held my gaze at the contact. I turned wallowing in their splendor before me.
Once I finished with my punch, Conner took my glass setting it on the nearest table. Taking my hand, he slid it back into the cradle of his arm then leaned in to whisper to me, “May I have this dance?”
I could feel the warmth of his breath flow across my skin. Goosebumps tingled up my arms as a result. I nodded instinctively with a small smile dancing across my face.
We strolled to the area of the floor where other couples had been dancing as new couples graced the floor. Women around us turned their gazes to Conner, then slowly to me. Pure jealousy was in their expressions. They looked at me as if I was not worthy. Perhaps I was not, but I tried not to let their envious glances ruin my time.
I felt Conner's hand on the small of my back as he pulled me close. My mind emptied of thoughts of those envious women. Conner had my undivided attention and I seemed to have his, which was all that matter. My heart began to race and I worried that he could feel it too, but if he could he gave no notice. I hesitantly placed my left hand on top of his shoulder. He smiled brilliantly at me, grasped my other hand firmly and we flowed smoothly around the floor with the music.
I inhaled deeply, his sweet scent filling my lungs. It was more taunting at that close of a distance.
“You look very lovely this evening, Francesca.” I felt the heat of my blushing cheeks take
“It has been a long time Francesca. How are you this lovely evening?” Cecile was the spokesperson for the whole pack, the others rarely talked. They all stood behind her with knowing smirks. I was curious as to what I had done to bring on their unwanted attention.
“I am well Cecile.” I was not going to bait her with questions, even if it meant not being polite. I figured if I let her take the lead, she would tell me what she wanted and the conversation would be over much faster.
“We saw an unfamiliar face this evening and we just had to know, who is your handsome escort?” She asked like it was a truly an insignificant detail but I knew she was thirsting for the bit of information. I should have known it had something to do with Conner. He was gorgeous and as she pointed out, new and unexplored.
I turned looking in his direction. He held two glasses in his hands and was filling the first one up with punch. “That is my stepbrother's best friend. Mr. Edwards.”
“Mother says he is staying in your home.” The girl to Cecile's right spoke and I believed her name was Jennifer. Her voice was small a squeaky like that of a small child's. I knew no matter which way I phrased my answer, they would turn it around to fit their gossip rants. So I said nothing. When it became clear I was not going to feed them any information, the girl spoke again.
“Mother also says that Mr. Henry has been seen in town on several occasions, alone .” The last word came out in a hushed tone, like it was dangerous.
“If Mr. Edwards is not accompanying him, what must he be doing with all his time?” Cecile asked with snotty curiosity.
“He has been attending business in town,” I said trying to hush them up.
“I was not talking about Mr. Henry,” Cecile said snidely before an evil smirk spread across her face. She looked over my shoulder, then quickly back at me. “Have a good evening Francesca.” She spun around taking off in the same direction from which she had come and the rest of the hive followed. Conner appeared beside me seconds later, handing me a glass. Our finger touched briefly, his eyes held my gaze at the contact. I turned wallowing in their splendor before me.
Once I finished with my punch, Conner took my glass setting it on the nearest table. Taking my hand, he slid it back into the cradle of his arm then leaned in to whisper to me, “May I have this dance?”
I could feel the warmth of his breath flow across my skin. Goosebumps tingled up my arms as a result. I nodded instinctively with a small smile dancing across my face.
We strolled to the area of the floor where other couples had been dancing as new couples graced the floor. Women around us turned their gazes to Conner, then slowly to me. Pure jealousy was in their expressions. They looked at me as if I was not worthy. Perhaps I was not, but I tried not to let their envious glances ruin my time.
I felt Conner's hand on the small of my back as he pulled me close. My mind emptied of thoughts of those envious women. Conner had my undivided attention and I seemed to have his, which was all that matter. My heart began to race and I worried that he could feel it too, but if he could he gave no notice. I hesitantly placed my left hand on top of his shoulder. He smiled brilliantly at me, grasped my other hand firmly and we flowed smoothly around the floor with the music.
I inhaled deeply, his sweet scent filling my lungs. It was more taunting at that close of a distance.
“You look very lovely this evening, Francesca.” I felt the heat of my blushing cheeks take
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